Submitted by Greg Piccininno
Although I had promised myself to stay out of politics—often as rough as one can imagine—I feel compelled, as a lifelong Republican, to speak out in support of the Committee for a Better Republican BET slate, which also has the endorsement of Fred.
This slate—Sally Bednar, Josh Brown, Joe Kelly, Joe Pellegrino, and incumbents Harry Fisher and Leslie Tarkington—represents Real Republicans (RR) who are committed to fiscal responsibility and sound stewardship of our town.
By contrast, the slate led by Nisha Arora promotes itself as representing character, leadership, and values. While I do not know all of its members, I am familiar with Ms. Arora from my service with her on the Central Middle School Building Committee.
Despite her reputation for being well-prepared, my experience was different. I witnessed behavior that struck me as political rather than productive—more focused on delay and posturing than on data, research, and fiscal discipline. For example, in her official capacity she made repeated public statements that proved inaccurate. Among them:
• She claimed certain committee decisions would increase the project cost by 30–40% ($20–30 million), basing this on misinterpretations of state guidelines while disregarding mandatory ADA and educational specifications.
• She suggested the town’s 10% state grant would be reduced to 3–5%, which was not the case.
Meanwhile, the committee, with Joe Kelly among its members, delivered the project on time, under budget, and with more state funding than expected—a result that should make all Greenwich residents proud.
If Ms. Arora and her slate truly cared about the financial health of our town, they would as current members of the BET:
1. Examine departmental costs and propose thoughtful reductions—rather than last-minute, across-the-board cuts.
2. Advocate for a long-term capital replacement plan to spread costs responsibly and ensure our facilities are first-class.
3. Collaborate with the First Selectman’s office and town agencies on a proper budget process that balances community needs with fiscal restraint.
Finally, we must remember that if unaffiliated voters align elsewhere, Republicans risk losing the chairmanship of the BET—and with it, the ability to keep Greenwich’s taxes low.
For these reasons, I urge my fellow Republicans to join me in voting for the Committee for a Better Republican BET slate: Sally Bednar, Josh Brown, Joe Kelly, Joe Pellegrino, Harry Fisher, and Leslie Tarkington.
Let’s keep Greenwich working for all of us—and keep our taxes low.